Volume 31, Number 7

March 2012

Adar / Nisan 5772

the

T E M P L E B E T H A B R A H A M

Pu RiM

Volume 32, Number 3

November 2012

Chesvan/Kislev 5773

General InFOrMaTIOn

All phone numbers use (510) prefix unless otherwise noted.

Mailing address 336 Euclid Ave. Oakland, CA 94610

Hours M-Th: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Fr: 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

Office Phone 832-0936Office Fax 832-4930

e-Mail admin@tbaoakland.orgGan avraham 763-7528

Bet Sefer 663-1683

STaFF

rabbi (x 213) Mark BloomCantor (x 218) Richard Kaplan

Gabai David Galant & Jay Goldmanexecutive Director (x 214) Rayna ArnoldOffice Coordinator (x 210) Virginia TigerBet Sefer Director (x 217) Susan Simon

Gan avraham Director (x 219) Barbara KanterBookkeeper (x 215) Christine Tripod

Custodian (x 211) Joe LewisKindergym/Toddler Program Dawn Margolin 547-7726

Volunteers (x 229) Herman & Agnes Pencovic

OFFICerS

President Bryan Schwartz 814-1936Vice President Mark Fickes 652-8545Vice President Rachel Teichman 858-922-0145Vice President Steve Grossman 834-3937Vice President Laura Wildmann 601-9571

Secretary Flo Raskin 653-7947Treasurer Susan Shub 852-2500

COMMITTeeS & OrGanIzaTIOnS

If you would like to contact the committee chairs, please contact the synagogue office for phone numbers and e-mail addresses.

adult education Steve Glaser & Aaron Paul

Chesed Warren Gould

Development Steve Grossman & Flo Raskin

Dues evaluation Susan Shub

endowment Fund Herman Pencovic

Finance Susan Shub

Gan avraham Parents Laura Kaplan & Rachel Teichman

Gan avraham School Committee Rebecca PosamentierHouse Murray Davis

Israel affairs J.B. Leibovitch

Membership Mark Fickes

Men’s Club Jeff Ilfeld

Omer Lori Rosenthal

Personnel Laura Wildmann

Public relations Lisa Fernandez

ritual Eric Friedman

Schools Rachel Teichman

Social action Marc Bruner

Torah Fund Anne Levine

Web Site Liz Willner

Women of TBa Jeanne Korn

Youth Phil Hankin

directory

Services ScheduleServices/ Time LocationMonday & Thursday Morning Minyan Chapel 8:00 a.m.(except Nov. 22, which start at 9 a.m.) Friday Evening (Kabbalat Shabbat) Chapel 6:15 p.m.Shabbat Morning Sanctuary 9:30 a.m.

Candle Lighting (Friday)November 2 5:51 p.m.November 9 4:44 p.m.November 16 4:39 p.m.November 23 4:35 p.m.November 30 4:32 p.m.

Torah Portions (Saturday)November 3 VayeirahNovember 10 Chayei SarahNovember 17 ToldotNovember 24 Vayeitzei

TeMPle BeTH aBraHaMis proud to support the Conservative Movement by affiliating with The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.

Advertising Policy: Anyone may sponsor an issue of The Omer and receive a dedication for their business or loved one. Contact us for details. We do not accept outside or paid advertising.The Omer is published on paper that is 30% post-consumer fibers.The Omer (USPS 020299) is published monthly except July and August by Congregation Beth Abraham, 336 Euclid Avenue, Oakland, CA 94610. Periodicals Postage Paid at Oakland, CA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Omer, c/o Temple Beth Abraham, 336 Euclid Avenue, Oakland, CA 94610-3232.© 2012. Temple Beth Abraham.

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The Omer is published by Temple Beth Abraham, a non-profit, located at 336 Euclid Avenue, Oakland, CA 94610; telephone 510-832-0936. It is published monthly except for the months of July and August for a total of ten issues per annum. It is sent as a requester publication and there is no paid distribution.

To view The Omer in color, visit www.tbaoakland.org.

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what’s happening

Shop For The HolidaysThird Annual

Community SHUK

Arts & CrAfts fAir

Showcasing 45+ Artists from East Bay Synagogues

Lots of activities for KIDSMany artists from TBA

Sunday, November 4, 201210am - 4pm

At Temple Sinai28th and Webster Streets

Temple Beth Abraham is Proud to Welcome

aaron Kintu Moses, Ugandan Jewish Community Leader

Join us for This Multi-Media, Musical Presentation & Dinner

november 18, 20125:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.Dinner: $36/person

RSVP to Virginia@tbaoakland.org or (510) 832-0936.

Aaron Kintu Moses, a remarkable leader of the Abayudaya Jewish community of Uganda, will speak at Temple Beth Abraham about his extraordinary, nearly 100 year-old African-Jewish community. The event, marking Moses’ only stop on the East

Bay, will be accompanied by a savory, tradi-tional African dinner.Co-sponsored by TBA, Scattered Among the Nations, and Kulanu.

The Teen SceneSunday, november 4

6:00 - 7:30 p.m.

Baum CenterA place for teens with special needs to come and hang out with typical teens and do fun activities together. Events begin with a light supper from Amba. This semester we will be doing a Sports theme with a wonderful sports instructor-Coach Rance!

Future date: December 2. Please contact Amy Tessler with questions (abtessler@comcast.net).

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from the rabbiTwo Thoughts on GratitudeThought #1I am often told by congregation members and fellow seekers that the prayers in the Siddur can be difficult to relate to for them. The specific question/complaint is usually a variant of: “it just seems like one praise of God after another.” They’re right. That is essentially what the Siddur is about. I sometimes call it “radical gratitude.” Our forebears who codified the Siddur nearly two eons ago were more thankful more often than we were. Without all the distractions of technology, they had a sense of wonder about creation, Torah, and life in general that is sorely missing in today’s world. They wanted to express that gratitude as often and as creatively as they can. So the Siddur became almost a competition between sages and thinkers as to how grateful we can be. Even if you have difficult relating to the words, try to focus on the theme of gratitude, and you’ll be linked to hundreds of years of Jewish tradition.

Thought #2As most of you know, October was a very challenging month for our congregation and for me per-sonally. I am, of course, referring to Congresswoman Barbara Lee speaking at the synagogue. To be cautious legally and to avoid going to court, we ultimately decided to postpone her visit until after the election. She has been invited back, but we do not have a specific date as of this writing.As I explained in various e-mails and sermons, I had many difficult decisions to make in an arena where my head and heart were often in conflict. I had to consider religious, emotional, communal, political, and legal angles, as well as issues of freedom of speech and personal integrity. These deci-sions were not mine to make alone, of course. The President and Board of Directors were equally involved in the decision-making process. The ultimate decisions were mostly made in partnership, as they should be in synagogue life.What stood above the fray in all of this was what a wonderful, supportive community we have. I was overwhelmed with the expressions of understanding that so many of you sent to me in letters, e-mails, and phone calls. Certainly not all of them agreed with the actions we took, but all of them reflected an empathic understanding of the challenges. I truly felt as if all of you were right there beside me during the painful process.So, to you, the membership of Temple Beth Abraham, I say todah rabbah, thank you so much, from the bottom of my heart. L’shalom,Rabbi Mark Bloom

TraVel TO ISrael WITH eaST BaY FeDeraTIOnApril 10-19, 2013

The East Bay Federation is organizing a unique community Israel experience next year. TBA is a co-sponsor along with many other East Bay congregations and the JCC. One of the unique features of this trip will be the choice of five themed excursions each day in Israel (Politics, Green/High Tech, Arts and Culture, Social Action, Historic Israel). This trip is suitable for first time visitors to Israel, while providing new experiences for return visitors.Registration began July 1, 2012. Information and Registration are available at www.jfed.org/isra-el2013/. The Federation will have some incentives to defray the cost of the land portion. For more information or a more detailed itinerary contact (jb.leibovitch@gmail.com), israel2013@jfed.org, or Riva Gambert (Director, Partnership for Israel) directly at (510) 318-6453.

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president’s message

Please Join Us for Morning Minyan on Mondays and Thursdays

Join the regulars at our Minyan service, each Monday and Thursday usually starting at 8:00 a.m. (Note, 9 a.m. start time on Nov. 22.) The service lasts about an hour, and is really a great way to start the day. As an added bonus, breakfast is served immediate-ly afterwards. To use the old expression – try it, you’ll like it. If not as a regular, just stop in once or twice and see what it’s all about.

and Join Us for a Special Morning Minyan on Thanksgiving, nov. 22, 9 a.m.

eggs mit Onions breakfast on November 22 - TBA Social Hall after minyan. What could be better on Thanksgiving morning than minyan followed by a hearty oneg that we prepare for YOU. It’s the tastiest of Men’s Club traditions: a fabulous meal that always includes eggs and griddle-carmelized onions. What will we pre-pare this time? Shakshuka? Morning burritos? French Toast and Scrambled Eggs? Bring the family and find out! Note: morning minyan on Thanksgiving starts at 9 a.m.

Gratitude and IngratitudeBy Bryan Schwartz

Today I went whitewater rafting with a group of TBA members. There was a fifty-year age range among us, and we were all coming from different places in the TBA community. We all had a wonderful time. Howard and Elane Davis have grown kids, out of college, and Howard has been a member of TBA for over six decades. Allan Gordon and his teenagers, Yael and Elliot, emigrated from Sweden with the rest of their family several years ago. Judith Klinger, a former Women of TBA President, is a single, high school English teacher in Alameda. Jeff Lipsett is a Gan father, in real estate, married to Lisa Tabak, a leader at the Federation. My brother Kevin is a single, PhD ecologist and pro rafting guide, who spends most of his free moments leading outdoor adventures for people like us – by which I mean, rookies. And then, there was me. From what I could tell, none of us (apart from the families) had ever spent time with each other before today, and indeed, we probably never would have met, if it was not for this synagogue. Rafting is fun, but the best part, surely, was the sense of community we felt.I am grateful for my wife, Alicia, and my daughter, Camelia, who gave me the day to go rafting. I am grateful for my successful career to date, and my health, which allowed me to take a trip like this. While rafting, I was especially grateful for the natural beauty of Northern California, and for being Jewish, having just read Parshat Bereshit, to help me appreciate Creation this way. Most of all, though, in thinking about today’s rafting trip, I am grateful for this community.When we took a survey of members over the last year, what we heard often was that congregants want more opportunities to get to know people in different demographics within TBA. And, when I attend events like today’s rafting trip, I can certainly understand why. We have a remarkable commu-nity of interesting and kind people, respecting each other’s differences and cherishing the thing we have in common – our desire to be part of such a Jewish community, learning and growing together.Perhaps that is why I was so shaken, this last month, when one family treated the rest of this com-munity so disrespectfully. I am talking about just a couple of people who sought to coerce this congregation to cancel a visit on Shabbat by our local congresswoman, Barbara Lee, putting their own political agenda before the needs of the community. The Congresswoman was kind enough to schedule a visit to talk to us during the holidays about the values of Sukkot – that is, welcoming guests, the fragility of life – important themes – and to answer our questions, as her constituents. Ultimately, the talk had to be postponed briefly, and we have already extended a new invitation to Rep. Lee. But, I have never seen anything like it, and especially not here – where the sense of com-munity is so strong and the respect among members is so profound.My gratitude to this community, and what it has meant to me and my family, means that I will fight for it, and against anyone who would threaten it. I hope you will join me not only in appreciating what we have here, but in preserving it for future generations. I urge you to be grateful and combat ingratitude because what we have here is very special.

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editor’s message

the

OMERWe cheerfully accept member submissions. Deadline for articles and letters is the seventh of the month preceding publication.

editor in Chief Lori RosenthalManaging editor Lisa Fernandezlayout & Design Jessica Sterling

Calendars Jon GoldingB’nai Mitzvah editor Susan Simon

Cover Ruth TietelbaumHelp From People like you!

Copy editors Jessica Dell’Era, Nadine Joseph, Richard Kauffman, Jan Silverman, Debbie Spangler

Proofreaders June Brott, Jessica Dell’Era, Charles Feltman, Jeanne Korn, Anne Levine, Stephen Shub, Susan Simon, Debbie Spangler

Distribution Fifi Goodfellow, Hennie Hecht, Herman and Agnes Pencovic, Gertrude Veiss

Mailing address 336 Euclid Ave. Oakland, CA 94610e-Mail omer@tbaoakland.org

December Omer theme: Chanukah!

read About Our Cover Artist This Month on page 20.

continued on page 22

Gratitude to the Omer TeamBy Lori Rosenthal

In 2011, when The Omer received a Schechter Award from the United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism (USCJ) for Excellence in Synagogue Bulletins, it was not a surprise. We produce a pretty fine end product. And every month, I am grateful to the TBA Staff and volunteers whose work makes this possible. I may be the Omer Editor, but it takes a village to bring this newsletter to life each month. Let’s meet that talented team:We’ll start with the graphically attractive layout of each month’s issue. For this, please join me in thanking Jessica Sterling. Jessica, our graphic artist extraordinaire, you rock!!! We give you words, thoughts, concepts, cover art and completed articles. You give us a polished looking end product. Speaking of beauty - how cool is it that each issue has a piece of original artwork on the cover? For the past two years, Ruth Teitelbaum was our sole cover artist. (For a few years prior to that, David Avidor created the covers including our Centennial Celebration edition.) This year I am thank-ful to have many cover artists sharing the work. They include: Joni Tanis, new member Lauren Manasse, Ruth Teitelbaum, and teenager, Daniel Sosebee. I am very grateful to this talented team and look forward to their artistic creations each month. If you want to see the gallery of cover art they have produced over the years, go to our website, click on the Community tab, then click on Newsletter, then take a look at the three pages of cover art you will find there. It’s quite impressive. You can view old newsletters there too!There would not be a monthly Omer without our ongoing TBA contributors: Rabbi Mark Bloom, President Bryan Schwartz, Gan Director Barbara Kanter, Bet Sefer Director Susan Simon (who adds all sorts of interesting information to the Omer from year to year), Office Administrator Virginia Tiger who supplies Life Cycle events including New Member lists, our recipe guru Faith Kramer, and our Calendar maven Jon Golding. Then there are our regular, but not quite monthly, contributors: both Berkeley and Oakland Midrasha Directors, and representatives from our three local day schools. Other frequent con-tributors include WTBA President Jeanne Korn, Men’s Club President Jeff Ilfeld, Amazingly Fast Journalist On Any Given Subject Lisa Fernandez, Gan Chronicler Rachel Teichman, Executive Director Rayna Arnold, Photographer Bonnie Burt, various Ritual Committee members usually cor-ralled by Eric Friedman, Israel item contributor June Brott, and season after season of B’nai Mitzvah kids. A big shout out to all of you! It’s not just our regular and sort of regular contributors who make the Omer a reality. As NPR says, it is “people like you” who rise to the challenge and submit an article or essay when the theme reso-nates or my requests can no longer be ignored. I’ve loved getting to know more about you through

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wtba, our sisterhood

Women on the Move Sunday, november 11

WTBA hikes happen the second Sunday of every month. We meet at 9:45 and depart promptly at 10:00. Hikes end by 11:30.We will meet at the Skyline Gate on Skyline just south of Snake and hike in Redwood Regional Park. For details, contact Deena Aerenson at (510) 225-5107 or daerenson@gmail.com.

Are you a WTBA member? You’re invited to join us for our annual

celebration for our members

Sunday, November 112:00 – 4:00 p.m.

at the home of Jill Rosenthal1100 Clarendon Crescent, Oakland

Voice of a Woman – Cantor Jennie Chabon

Join Cantor Jennie Chabon as she takes us down a musical road map that brings Judaism to life. Cantor Chabon will share her personal journey from choral singer to cantor and demonstrate the beauty and complexity of liturgical music. Buffet appetizers and cocktails will be served. Please RSVP to Jeanne Korn at jeannekorn@aol.com, or (510) 339-3795.This event is free to our members. Not yet a member? You may still join us, at a cost of $18, which can be applied to your WTBA membership if you join that day.Cantor Jennie Chabon serves as the cantor of Congregation B’nai Tikvah in Walnut Creek She received her Masters of Sacred Music and Investiture from the Jewish Theological Seminary in 2004. She is also a TBA member and Gan parent. She loves hiking, cooking, yoga, and playing with her sons Ezra and Levi and Judah.

WTBA fulfilled the mitzvah of hachnasat orchim (hospitality) in the newly enhanced (by WTBA Board member Outi Gould) TBA sukkah last month. Board member Anne Levine welcomed

the women of our community with a blow of the shofar. Mary Odenheimer provided a beautiful autumn brunch.

Special thanks to Board member Beth Sirull for her teaching on the rituals of Hoshana Rabbah and welcoming the ushpizot.

The beautiful new lectern for the sanctuary, created by congregant Donaldo Osorio to complement the Torah table

and Torah stand, and donated by WTBA.

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women of tba

Is There Room for New Rituals?On behalf of The Women of TBA (WTBA) and Oakland Ruach Hadassah, we would like to invite all East Bay Women to join our Rosh Chodesh group. The group meets monthly on the Monday closest to Rosh Chodesh, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at rotating members’ homes. The meetings are facili-tated by members of the group. As a community of women, we explore the emotional and intellectual themes that live in Torah and connect to our lives. There is no cost to participate and it’s fine to come intermittently.

This year we are studying the book, Lifecycles: Jewish Women on Life Passages and Personal Milestones (Volume 1) edited by Rabbi Debra Orenstein. In her book, Rabbi Orenstein poses the question “How the Jewish community might be enhanced if it fully incorporated women’s experi-ences and talents?”

This month’s meeting is on november 19 where we will discuss Chapter 2: Infertility and Early Losses. Our discussion will focus on the grief and need to mourn that may accompany situations of infertil-ity and loss of pregnancy. The meeting will opens with a short discussion about the significance of the month of Kislev.

The schedule for the upcoming year is as follows:December 3, Tevet; January 14, Sh’vat; February 11, Adar; March 8, Nissan; April 8, Iyar ; May 6, Sivan; June 10, TammuzQuestions? Contact Debbie Spangler at debspang@yahoo.com or (510) 531-1105 to get on the distribution list for the upcoming meeting locations.Remember to check the TBA website and email

updates for information about late-breaking TBA events and activities. www.tbaoakland.org

Join us for a glass of wine at WTBA’s

Girls’ Night OutThursday, november 8

7:30 - 9:00 p.m.

Theme: Decisions, Decisions, and

Facing the Empty Nest: Transition from High School to College Mom

Open to all women, but a special invitation to moms of high school and college age

children. Share your hopes, fears, experience, and joys in spirited discussion

with your fellow TBA women.

The Baum Youth Center 341 Macarthur

Girls’ Night is a casual monthly event open to all TBA women, sponsored by WTBA. A social time where TBA women can chat, laugh, debate, have a glass of wine and some light goodies, and get to know each other better. Come for all or part, and no need to bring a thing! Meet old friends, and make new friends.

Questions: jeannekorn@aol.com, (510) 339-3795

Calendar: December 6 and January 3 for future Girls’ Nights Out

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men’s club

The eternal Flame Burns BrightBy Jeff Ilfeld, Men’s Club President

“And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always.” -- Exodus 27:20-21Ner Tamid is translated as “eternal flame” and carries multiple mean-ings hanging in front of the ark in every Jewish synagogue. It symbol-izes G-d’s eternal presence for the Jewish people. It symbolizes the fire used for burnt offerings in the front of the Temple, and also represents the menorah of the Temple. The Men’s Club has donated a beautiful commissioned Ner Tamid to the congregation, now hanging in front of the ark in the chapel. This piece reflects the themes of G-d as the pillar of fire and the pillar of cloud that followed the Israelites throughout the wilderness. It was created by renowned local stained glass artists David and Michelle Plachte-Zweiback, who reside in Northern California and have been creating incredibly beautiful stained glass and judaica for synagogues across the United States since 1978. Please come look and enjoy this beautiful piece during tefillah.

Men’s Club GratitudeBy Jon Shuster

“Who is rich? Those who rejoice in their own lot” (Pirkei Avot 4:1)Not only was Ben Zoma wise, his proverb anticipated mod-ern research into the benefits of “gratitude”. Studies by Robert Emmons, for example, have shown that people who regularly keep a gratitude journal report fewer illness symp-toms, feel better about their lives as a whole, and are more optimistic about the future. Researchers at the University of Connecticut found that gratitude can even have a protective effect against heart attacks. However, research also indicates that men are less likely to feel and express gratitude than women (Kashdan, 2009). Perhaps this is as good as any rea-son I can think of to participate in the Men’s Club. Over nine years, the Men’s Club has consistently provided me with many opportunities for hakarat ha’tov: recognizing the good. My participation has generated friendship and camaraderie, enjoyment through developing and partici-pating in a host of programs, and satisfaction from seeing tangible improvements to the synagogue. The Men’s Club mission is enrich the quality of Jewish life at TBA and mine has been! So in keeping with the theme of gratitude, I’d like to give a shout-out to my fellow board members as well as to the many other club volunteers and members over the years who have brought their enthusiasm, dedication and humor. Thank you all! You’ve made the Men’s Club a source of good for so many, including me, and I am very grateful. By Ben Zoma’s standard, you have made me a rich man.

But wait – there’s more. The Men’s Club has planned upcoming programs in November and December that I know you’ll enjoy. On behalf of the Men’s Club, I hope you participate – come join us. And with an assist from the Men’s Club, may you too feel the richness of gratitude. Or at least you’ll eat well:Eggs mit Onions breakfast on November 22, 10 a.m.(ish) - TBA Social Hall after minyan. What could be better on Thanksgiving morning than minyan followed by a hearty oneg that we prepare for YOU. It’s the tastiest of Men’s Club traditions: a fabulous meal that always includes eggs and griddle-carmelized onions. What will we prepare this time? Shakshuka? Morning burritos? French Toast and Scrambled Eggs? Bring the family and find out! Note: morning minyan on Thanksgiving starts at 9 a.m.Jews in Bad Shoes on December 6, 7:30 p.m. - details to follow. It’s bowling time at the Men’s Club event with my favorite tagline! Knock down a few pins and share refresh-ments with old and new friends. To get in on the fun, con-tact Howard Zangwill (hmzangwill@gmail.com). Movie Sing-a-Long and Dinner on December 24, co-sponsored with the Women of TBA. Singers wanted; no talent required! It will be a joyful evening for all ages this year featuring the beloved classic The Sound of Music. Come join Maria, Captain von Trapp and the rest of the cast as they sing their way through “My Favorite Things”, “Do-Re Mi”, “Edelweiss” and other favorites. For more information, contact Jeff Ilfeld (ilfeld@email.com).

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gratitudeGratitude in the Morning liturgyBy Eric Friedman, Ritual Committee ChairSome of my favorite parts of our morning liturgy are Birkhot Hashachar (Morning Blessings) and Pesukei D’Zimra (Verses of Song). While generally regarded as a warm up before the official call to prayer (Bar’khu) and the majesty of the Shema and the Amidah, the ecstatic poetry of these “optional” services is both lovely and stirring for those who can make it to shul by 9:30, when there’s still plenty of good parking!Grateful acknowledgement is the major theme throughout these services, and especially in Nisim B’chol Yom (Miracles for Every Day). These particular blessings were originally said at home, where they lent a spiritual dimension to the quotidian rituals of preparing for a new day. Now, at Temple Beth Abraham, we begin our public morning ser-vices with these expressions of gratitude for personal and social wellbeing.It may seem strange that we begin by blessing God for giv-ing “the rooster the ability to distinguish between night and day.” Why a rooster? The plain meaning is that the rooster’s crowing at daybreak is the agrarian equivalent of an alarm clock – a sound that reaches our ears even before our eyes are open to the light of a new morning. On awaking, we’re grateful, then, for the gift of hearing as well as that of sight. On a deeper level, the rooster’s ability to tell night from day is a kind of synecdoche – a figure substituting a part for the whole – for our general faculty of judgment, by which we are able to distinguish and to choose: essential gifts as we rise to the challenges of the day ahead. The rooster also reminds us that as miraculous as our sensory awakening can seem, our experience is but one note in the symphony of the larger Creation – awakenings are underway all around us.The next three blessings praise God for “making me in the Divine image,” “making me a Jew” and “making me free.” Together these express our gratitude for being who we are and for having the capacity to express ourselves freely and as Jews. Traditionally, these three blessings were phrased nega-tively, praising God for not making me a woman, gentile, or slave, respectively. As upsetting to modern, egalitarian sensibilities as these other formulations are, their intention is the same: in earlier times, only free, Jewish males had the obligation (and so, for practical purposes, the opportunity) to praise God. Today, of course, both men and women strive for Jewish self-actualization and we – and our siddur – are all the better for it.Blessings five through eight are also deeply personal, expressing gratitude not for who we are but for what we can do, for our ability to see, to stand, to dress ourselves, and to move about. Interestingly, the berachot celebrate God’s gifts in communitarian language rather through the lens of indi-vidualism. So instead of blessing God for giving us sight

and allowing us to stand, we express gratitude for “giving sight to the blind” and for “straightening the bent.” This particular phrasing suggests an inclusiveness – some people remain blind or bent and yet they too can express apprecia-tion for gifts that others enjoy and, one hopes, share. Blessings nine through eleven continue the expression of gratitude for natural miracles on dual tracks: the individual and the universal. In nine, we acknowledge God who “spreads out the earth over the waters.” This may seem like it is “merely” about the miracle of creation – and on one level it is – but in the next blessing we begin to see that it makes possible the gifts we enjoy personally: “who gives me all that I need.” Clean water, air, and fertile soil – without these, “all that I need” would not be possible.The next two blessings shift to the socio-historical realm, blessing God for strengthening (“helps Israel with strength”) and redeeming us as a people (“crowns the people Israel with glory”). It is significant that this expression of people-hood precedes the final blessings (“who gives strength to the weary” and “who removes sleep from my eyes and slumber from my eyelids”) in which we again return to the personal experience of awakening. Why reverse the crescendo – from the rooster’s call to the redemption of Am Yisrael -- that the blessings have built up to this point? One answer is that the sequence serves to remind us that our individuality and our social and communal being are inextricably linked. Giving us the ability to stand and walk about brings strength to all of Israel. And crowning the people Israel with glory gives us as individuals the strength – and the gratitude – to make the most out of each day. Another answer is that the trajectory from creation through revelation to redemption is the narrative arc of the entire morning service and these opening blessings offer a kind of preview of the liturgical wonders that lie ahead.

a Perspective on GratitudeBy Peter Yarrow (Excerpted from Jewels of Elul)I have gained perspective on the art of aging over the last decade of my 74 years. The gift of perspective is, in a word, “gratitude”- the conceit that my cup is half full, and each day more and more so.Years ago, my life was filled with excitement, wonderment and adventure, but also beset with varying degrees of anxi-ety about what tomorrow might bring. Now, I truly pass my days without such concern, and with few lapses, I feel grateful for what I have, for those I love, for work that satis-fies – and, happily, the focus of my life is all about tikkun olam, repairing the world.Is my life different now from the way it once was? Not really. But the shift in the angle of the glass, the tilt of the reflection that has reframed my perspective, has made an inestimable difference.

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gratitudeI’m reminded of the lesson of the goat: A rabbi is consulted by a man who proclaims that his life has fallen apart. “My wife hates me, my children disobey me, I can’t pay my bills, no one respects me.” The rabbi solemnly counsels the man, “Buy a goat and live with it for a month – in the house – and then we’ll talk.” The man obeys the rabbi. Soon the goat has chewed his clothes, eaten his food and done his business on the carpet. Chaos reigns. Desperate, the man returns to the rabbi and throws himself on the rabbi’s mercy. “What should I do?” he wails. “Get rid of the goat,” says the rabbi calmly. One month later the man returns. He fairly shouts to the rabbi that he’s the luckiest person in the world, proclaiming to all in the ‘shtetl,’ that the rabbi is a genius.What’s the gift of aging? Sometimes, if we’re lucky, we get rid of the goat.

Thanks TBa for My Summer Trip to IsraelBy Peri ZangwillI want to take this opportunity to thank the Hertz Fund for helping me pay for my expenses while traveling in Israel and also to the Men’s Club for the camp scholarship. This sum-mer I went with Ramah Seminar to Poland for eight days followed by an amazing six-week adventure in Israel. As a participant of this program, I immersed myself in a conser-vative lifestyle that included davening, keeping Shabbat and kashrut. I feel fortunate for having had the chance to expe-rience living in Israel for an extended amount of time while being an observant Jew. It enhanced my experience and gave me a look into the possibilities of what my life could bring if I choose to become more observant. It also gave me the chance to experience Israeli culture and the way the society works which could also potentially impact where I want to live after college. Ramah Seminar opened my eyes to what being a Zionist is and the history of Israel and why it is vital for the state to exist.After visiting Poland, I felt my travels to Israel were not just for myself but also for the millions of Jews who died in the Holocaust. I loved praying with my friends all over Israel and every time I recited the mourner’s kaddish, I thought about those who dreamt of going to Israel but never made it. Upon our arrival to Israel while walking in the airport seeing the sign saying Bruchim HaBaim (wel-come) the smiles on everyone’s faces were contagious and our energy soared. We rushed onto the bus that took us up to Jerusalem, ascending to the holiest place for us. Touching the Kotel was electrifying. Although it was not my first time at the Kotel and it won’t be my last, it was incredibly mov-ing. Our group felt so grateful that the state of Israel exists and we realized how lucky our generation is to grow up where the Jewish people have a place to call home.I would highly recommend you send your kids to Camp Ramah in California so they too can have this inspirational trip with the conservative movement. Growing up attending

Camp Ramah for four weeks each summer and then having the chance to travel to Israel with the same community plus teens your age from all over the country and Canada makes this trip incredibly meaningful. If any of you are interested in hearing more about my experience, I would be happy to talk with you. Again, thanks to Hertz Fund and the Men’s Club. I feel fortunate to be a part of the Temple Beth Abraham community.

The Five Minute Happiness PlanBy Jo IlfeldWe sit for hours at shul during the High Holiday season praying to be inscribed in the book of life. So it seems fit-ting that we might also want to give some thought to why we want to stay alive for another year and what exactly is so fulfilling about our lives. The reality for most of us though, is that once the “Book of Life is sealed,” we quickly return to our status quo. So I know that while most of us enter-tain “how lucky are we?” fleeting thoughts as we read about calamities profiled in the news, it’s rare to make it a regular practice to count our blessings.Why should you be grateful, anyway? While I bet the Rabbi could give us great spiritual reasons, I’m a business coach so I tend to focus on the much more pragmatic side. The reality is that science continues to point us to the truth that a regular gratitude practice is one very simple way to become happier.The reason turns out to hinge on our basic biology. When we were cavemen trying to avoid the woolly mammoths (or some other scary species that overlapped with us), we had to be ever vigilant and on the alert. Survival of the fittest ensured our current tendency to regularly scan our environ-ments for any possible negative consequences and dangers. And despite the fact that in our world, getting eaten by wild animals is a freak occurrence, we soldier on, still trolling for the bad. Think about it. If your kids (like mine) have a tendency to leave their shoes in the front hallway, every time you trip

Maya Scherne, Peri Zangwill and Rozzie Heeger in Tzfat on Ramah Seminar.

continued on page 20

10

jewish knowledge/customs challenge theater tix

Any Interest in an Interest-Free Loan?The Hebrew Free loan association has been providing interest-free loans to Jewish residents of Northern California since 1897. Types of avail-able loans include: Student, Emergency, Adoption, Business, First-time Home Buyer, Health Care, Recently Unemployed, Life Cycle, Debt Consolidation, Institutional (for Jewish communal agencies and synagogues) and Special Needs (for emotionally and physically challenged people).Since 1897, the Hebrew Free Loan of San Francisco has offered vital financial assistance to more than 100,000 people. Each year, we help more than 400 people to reach their goals and move in the direction of financial security and future success. HFLA helps people to help themselves. Whether we’re providing people a way out of their finan-cial distress, or helping them to realize a life-long dream, HFLA recipients maintain dignity and self-sufficiency as they repay their interest-free loans. If you, or someone you know, needs financial assistance and would like to apply for an interest-free loan, please contact HFLA by phone at (415) 546-9902 or by email at info@hflasf.org. Website: www.hflasf.org.

Another TBA Fun-d Raiser! Get your tickets to see:

ANYTHING GOES at the Golden Gate Theater in SF

January 8 at 8 p.m.Center Orchestra Seats (Rows S & T)

All tickets $60Anything Goes is the Winner of three 2011 Tony Awards® including Best Revival of a Musical and Choreography.This 1934 musical comedy about the lovers, liars and clowns on a transatlantic cruise is “a daffy, shipshape romp!” - Variety. When the S.S. American heads out to sea, etiquette and convention head out the portholes as two unlikely pairs set off on the course to true love… proving that sometimes destiny needs a little help from a crew of singing sailors, an exotic disguise and some good old-fashioned blackmail. Cole Porter’s roundup of nostalgic hits in the production include “You’re the Top,” “Friendship,” “I Get a Kick Out of You,” “It’s De-Lovely,” “Blow, Gabriel, Blow” and, of course “Anything Goes.”Name: _____________________________Address: ___________________________# of Tickets __________ Date __________ Total $$$ enclosed __________________Phone #: ___________________________Email: ______________________________Replies and payment due by November 20. Seats will be assigned on a first come first served basis. Make checks out to Lori Rosenthal Mailing Address: 1868 Woodhaven Way, Oakland, CA 94611Contact Lori Rosenthal with questions – rosentlori@gmail.com or (510) 339-0133.

V’zot HaTorah Follow UpShalom Chaverim. Last month I posed a question – why is it when we sing V’zot HaTorah do we lift our pointer finger, pinky or tzitzit and point to the Torah. We had a couple of responses. One person provided a comprehensive explanation – that it was a Sephardic custom linked to the idea of the “yad,” the Torah pointer, which has an extended finger indicating the place in the scroll. (Thank you Jessica Sterling!) Another response from Elinor DeKoven suggest-ed that it is another way of honoring the Torah and bring-ing it closer to yourself.Here is this month’s question: There are lots of different customs involving when we bow in the service and lots of explanations for why we bow at some times and not at others. One custom is that we don’t want too much bow-ing – we aren’t groveling, just showing humility and respect. Others bow every time we say “Baruch Atah Adonai,” even during the Torah service. So, what is your custom and why is it you bow when you do and don’t when you don’t?I’ll be looking forward to your responses – susan@tbaoak-land.org.

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cooking cornerWe are Grateful for TBa’s CaterersBy Faith KramerThis is the second in a series featuring the talented folks who plan, shop and cook for the Temple Beth Abraham Kiddush lun-cheons. If you have a suggestion for this series or a request for a favorite recipe from those Saturday afternoon meals, please con-tact Faith Kramer at fjkramer@msn.com or (510) 339-3850.Jing Piser trades her doctor’s white coat for a chef ’s apron when she enters the kitchen at Temple Beth Abraham. The busy hand surgeon needs to plan her cooking commitments six months or more in advance so she can clear her calendar to make the Kiddush luncheon buffets and other meals she’s become known for.Piser, a member for 23 years, has been cooking at TBA for 10 years. It was at a dinner with some other TBA congre-gants that friends suggested she take her cooking talents to the synagogue kitchen. “I gave it some thought. I had already been certified a Mashgiach (someone who can supervise the dietary law regulations of kashrut in the kitchen),” she said and decided to give it a try. She had no formal cooking background and prior to that her only TBA kitchen experience was helping to bake hamentashen at Purim.She dove in and the result has been a decade of congre-gational favorites such as roasted cream of tomato soup (see recipe below), smoked trout mousse, chocolate crois-

sant bread pudding with caramel crème anglaise sauce and lemon meringue pie in a jar. In addition, she and Mary Odenheimer, another Kiddush luncheon stalwart, have headed the planning and cooking for the Gourmet Gala fundraiser for the last eight years.Piser said she has learned a lot.“Early on, I routinely ran short on all menu items. I learned quickly to increase amounts by 25 percent.”Another challenge has been organizing and planning includ-ing “deconstructing recipes” so that all the food tastes fresh made, since food can only be reheated on Shabbat in the TBA kitchen and not cooked from raw, she said. Her menus are drawn from the likes and dislikes of the Kiddush lunch sponsors, she said. “I mentally take them on a stroll down the rows of a farmer’s market when I talk to them over the phone,” Piser said, adding that she asks a lot of questions about what foods they like so she can plan dishes that reflect their tastes.Piser and her husband Joel are committed to TBA, where they were married and their son, Zachary, was bar mitzvah, despite a recent move from Piedmont to San Francisco. The only difference, Piser said, is that she needs to plan ahead a little bit more. To contact Piser about catering a Kiddush luncheon, please email her at piserfam@comcast.net.

Jing Piser’s roasted tomato souPMakes about 5 ½ cups Piser serves this with a grilled cheese sandwich that is her version of “croque mademoiselle” with a thin slice of lox

between the cheese.

1. Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position and heat oven to 450 degrees; line jelly-roll pan or rimmed cookie sheet with foil. 2. Measure 3 cups of reserved juice from the tomatoes. Discard or save the rest for another use. Seed the tomatoes by cutting in half and squeezing out seeds.3. Spread tomatoes in single layer on foil, and sprinkle evenly with brown sugar. Bake until all liquid has evaporated and tomatoes begin to color, about 30 minutes. Let tomatoes cool slightly, then peel them off foil; transfer to small bowl and set aside.4. Heat butter over medium heat in medium nonreactive saucepan until foaming; add shallots and tomato paste. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, until shallots are softened, 7 to 10 minutes. Add flour and cook, stir-ring constantly, until thoroughly combined, about 30 seconds. Whisking constantly, gradually add stock; stir in the 3 cups of reserved tomato juice and roasted tomatoes. Cover, increase heat to medium, and bring to boil; reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, to blend flavors, about 10 minutes.5. Strain mixture into medium bowl; rinse out saucepan. Transfer tomatoes and solids in strainer to blender; add 1 cup strained liquid and puree until smooth. Add remaining reserved liquid and puree.6. Return the pureed mixture to the saucepan, add cream, and heat over low heat until hot, about 3 minutes. Off heat, stir in brandy or sherry; season to taste with salt and cayenne, and serve immediately.To Make Ahead -- This soup can be prepared through step 5. Cool, cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months. Reheat over low heat before proceeding.

2 -28 oz. cans whole tomatoes (not packed in puree), drained and juice reserved

1 ½ Tbs. dark brown sugar4 Tbs. unsalted butter4 large shallots, minced1 Tbs. tomato paste

2 Tbs. flour1 ¾ cups vegetable stock½ cup heavy cream2 Tbs. brandy or dry sherrySalt, to tasteCayenne pepper, to taste

12

gan avraham

Thanks WTBA!!!Thank you to the Women of TBA

for the delicious breakfast treats, and warm welcome to the new school year.

From the Gan Avraham Parents

Gan GratitudeBy Barbara Kanter

I decided to chat with the children to learn what they were most thankful for (what they liked best) at the Gan. In a way I was surprised by their responses and then again not really. After spending the morning in Kitah Gimmel observing and chat-ting with groups of children, I discovered that in some ways not much has changed, according to the current Gimmel gang, since I was a teacher here.In the late 1980s when I was teaching and finishing my master’s thesis on gender differences in play behavior of preschool children, I discovered that there were indeed differences in the choices and activities of boys and girls, especially at the age of four. After observing and talking to the children now, it is apparent that those differences still exist.Although it was a Friday morning and many children (of both genders) were helping with the challah, their responses about what they did and liked at the Gan were much more gender specific. Almost all of the boys cited the yard or bike riding as their favorite things, and the girls (although with a few more exceptions) talked about art activities. It was interesting to note that while some responses were identical to the activity that the children were participating in others were not. The choices of and changes in activities by the children also varied much more than their responses during my time in the classroom.As I learned when researching my thesis (and from direct observation over many years), these differences in play are most pro-nounced at four to five years when children actively gender identify. After that they begin to develop their more individual identities. We continue to provide the many varied opportunities for play so the children have the opportunity to explore and practice many different activities. My conclusion (supported by much research in the field) is that we will continue to pro-vide our anti-bias, play based program of many varied choices for the children so that they can experiment, explore, practice, grow and learn. And for that we can all be grateful.

Give a new parent an hour to showerA perfect mitzvah for those with daytime

flexibility. Volunteers needed to provide short daytime sits free of charge to our new moms

and dads allowing them to shower, get a haircut or just take a walk.

Interested sitters should contact us at womenoftba@tbaoakland.org.

Welcome a New MemberDo you have time to help deliver TBA’s

new members baskets?If so, please contact Rebecca Skiles

at rebeccaskiles@hotmail.com or (510) 836-7407.

volunteer bulletin board

13

bet seferSukkot Fun Day at Bet SeferBy Susan Simon

This year the calendar has not been kind to our youngest students. We started Bet Sefer classes for those that only attend on Tuesdays on September 11. Then we missed September 18 for Rosh Hashanah and the next week for Kol Nidre. We were scheduled to miss the next two weeks for Sukkot which mean that children in Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grades wouldn’t be able to celebrate Sukkot at all with their school community.So this year we decided to have a special Sukkot fun day on the second day of Sukkot with activities that wouldn’t violate the spirit of the holiday. Children all spent some time in the TBA sukkah with Rabbi Bloom learning about cus-toms there and getting to bench lulav (wave the lulav and etrog). All students got to make their own sukkah out of graham crackers, pretzel sticks, frosting and parsley and then eat them. I was so proud of our 5th grade students who helped the Kindergarteners and the 6th grade students who helped our 1st graders – it was wonderful to see how patient and kind they were.Our older students got to play rounds of High Holy Day Jeopardy against each other, and everyone from 2nd grade up got to bob for apples. It was such a hot day that many took advantage of the access to water to really soak themselves and cool off. I think that for most of the students, this was their first experience bobbing for apples so their reactions were pretty hilarious.All in all, it was a lovely, fun way to celebrate the holiday together. Enjoy some of the photos that I took of everyone having a good time.

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midrashaMidrasha in BerkeleyBy Diane Bernbaum

Although most months it is up to me what I would like to share with you in my Midrasha newsletter column, some months a synagogue will send a prompt and this month I was very grateful that Temple Beth Abraham asked me to write about “gratitude.” Because there is rarely a day that goes by when I don’t feel grateful to be working in my job or to have a teen, a teacher or a parent express to me the gratitude they feel towards Midrasha. It’s unusual. Most of us that work in the non-profit world don’t get enough pats on the back, but I do.The best feedback often comes at Midrasha graduation. Students are asked to write out what they feel about Midrasha. Do any of you remember that Leo Lionni chil-dren’s book Frederick’s Fables where all the other mice are busy storing food for the winter but Frederick stores up the sun’s rays to bring joy to his fellow mice in the cold times? Well, that’s how I feel about graduation. You can actually go to the Midrasha website, www.Midrasha.org and down-load a PDF of the booklet with the graduates’ speeches and pictures. This is a short read and it will give you faith in the next generation, plus gratitude that we have such a place for our Jewish teens. But since I know most of you won’t click through to the website, here are just a few snippets: “I love this community – the inspiring teachers, the

intense conversations about ethics and culture and the wonderful friends I have made.” (Rebecca Herman)

“Not only did Midrasha give me an opportunity to make new friends, it also gave me powerful techniques to cope with my stress and anxiety during hectic times.” (Sam Stone)

“Retreats are an amazing experience because they allow younger and older students to connect without the social pressures that come with school and other extra-curriculars.....Midrasha is such an important part of my life and my Jewish identity as it has affected and molded it in many positive ways. Midrasha has always been a safe space for me to go to during times of need.” (Victoria Miller)

“What I’m taking away from Midrasha is a means of figuring out what my relationship to Judaism will be after I leave home....Midrasha has shown me that I can be Jewish in my own way. “ Elisheva Anisman

So, the students are grateful and I am grateful to them. I am grateful that we live in an area where it is easy to attract knowledgeable and charismatic staff that loves working with teens. I am grateful that Desmid Lyon has worked side by side with me for so many years, handling all the parts of this job, the finances, insurance and legal details that are so much not what I am good at. I am grateful that Jenni Mangel has stepped up this year to enable Midrasha in Berkeley to create retreats for the entire Midrasha com-munity and to do so in such a caring, professional and meaningful way. I am grateful for the three other Midrasha directors in Oakland, Contra Costa and Pleasanton, Kendra, Devra and Day, who make working collaboratively such an easy task. I am grateful for Chair Yossi Fendel and the rest of the Midrasha Board who work tirelessly and pas-sionately to make Midrasha thrive. I am grateful to the staff and Beth El who makes my weekly office life so pleas-ant and are so welcoming to host Midrasha on their site. I could go on and on. Mostly I am grateful to YOU, members of the East Bay Jewish community, who have supported this institution for the last 43 years.

Oakland Midrasha UpdateBy Kendra Lubalin, Oakland Midrasha Director

Because the fall holidays included Tuesdays this year, Midrasha in Oakland just got off the ground in mid-October. We have had a high energy start, with lots of excitement from the teens and staff, and a feeling in all of us that something a little magical is happening on Tuesday nights. We are offering an amazing range of elective classes this year: Art, Filmmaking, Superheros, Sex, Improv, Hot Topics, Meditation, and Food, all viewed (and tasted) through a Jewish lens! Our core classes this year focus on Ethics, Identity, Israel and Peoplehood, and Spirituality and Theology. If you have or know a teen who isn’t at Midrasha, it’s not too late to come check out the program! We welcome visi-tors, and find that many teens visit once and decide to join.

Midrasha teens describe the program as ‘The one place where I can just be myself ’ and ‘the time during the week I can just breathe.’ The first retreat of the year followed at the end of October, with teens from all four Midrasha campuses coming togeth-er for a weekend of community connection, and personal spiritual engagement. As we head into November we are planning an election night special program, using a Jewish values lens to explore real time election results and key issues in the election. If you have questions about Oakland Midrasha please contact Kendra Lubalin at bayareamidrasha@gmail.com or check out our website at oaklandmidrasha.org. You can also become facebook friends with us (search Oakland Midrasha) to see weekly photos of Midrasha!

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youth events

KEFlaNu: Shabbat Fun and Games for 3rd - 6th GradersWe would like to invite 3rd – 6th graders to join their friends in the Baum Youth Center

following Shabbat services on the 1st and 3rd Shabbat of the month.

Upcoming date: november 3After the service join together for lunch in the social hall. About 20 minutes after motzi, the Rabbi will announce the chaperone is ready for check-in at the Baum Youth Center!

Have fun with Shabbat appropriate games and activities… • basketball • board games • jump rope • foosball • ping pong • or even just shmooze

Parents: we ask that an adult accompany the child/children to the Baum Youth Center – the chaperone will sign your child in and an adult pick-up at the Baum Youth Center –

for the safety of the youth, we ask that they not leave the site on their own.

Shabbat Mishpacha is for preschool-aged children

and their families.

This service is held on the first and third Shabbat

of each month. It is parent-led and there are snacks following

the age-appropriate service.

In Kitah Gimmel classroom.

november 3 & 17, 10:15 a.m.

T’fillat Y’ladim is designed for children in Kindergarten,

1st & 2nd grade and their families.

This service is held on the third Shabbat of each month and will bridge the gap for those students who are too old for Shabbat Mishpacha

and too young for Junior Congregation.

In the Chapel.

november 17, 10:15 a.m.

Junior Congregation is designed for children in 3rd through 6th grade.

This service is held on the first Shabbat of each month. Build your child’s sense of commu-nity, reinforce what they learn in religious or day school, and foster their interest in Jewish

practice by making youth services a regular part of your Shabbat schedule.

In the Chapel.

november 3, 10:15 a.m.

Please Join us for TBa’s Youth Services

JOIN uS FOR OuR KINDERGYM SuNDaY PlaYDaY ON 11/11, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m., TBa members/$9, nonmembers/$10 per family

If you have a young crawling baby or a toddler who is jumping off everything, the Kindergym and Toddler classes with Dawn Margolin are for you.

Come join us on tons of wonderful play equipment, in a large, well-lit room with other families ready to play together and make new friends. Families of all beliefs are welcome!

Children should be under 3 years of age and accompanied by a parent or caregiver. Please call Dawn at (510) 547-7726 if you have any questions.

Also, check this website before coming to confirm dates: www.tbaoakland.org/kindergym.

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la’atidHeading to the arcade During the Days of aweBy Lisa Fernandez

About 20 TBA kids and a handful of chaperones headed out to Boomers in Livermore on a September Sunday between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur as part of this season’s first La’atid outing. The kids plunked tokens in video arcades, squirted each other on bumper boats, played a rousing round of mini golf, and a few even whizzed about in diesel-rich Go Karts. Oh, and let’s not forget the clam-oring at the desk for cheap prizes at the end of the day. I scratched my head, trying to come up with some wise, sage thoughts about what Boomers and the Days of Awe had to do with each other. I quickly nixed the idea that obliterat-ing virtual enemies, that my 7-year-son, Noah, was pum-meling with a mock machine gun, was what G-d intended. So I dug deeper and came up with this: Hanging out with Jewish friends any time of the year enhances the experience at TBA and builds community, which we are all about. I saw my 9-year-old daughter, Milah, hanging out with girls a year or two older — girls who usually don’t talk to her at Bet Sefer, but did that day because they were grouped together for mini golf or in the carpool van. I saw that she was happy and liked making these new friends. I also had a good time, talking with parents that I don’t always get a chance to talk to, pondering how the arcade and getting inscribed in the Book of Life could possibly go hand in hand. And the event did make me feel thankful for and grateful toward Phil and Dina Hankin, the youth group’s fearless leaders who take our TBA kids every month on fun outings, even when times are hectic, which include the Days of Awe.

17

jewish student-athlete scholarships

La’atid A Youth Group

For 4th-7th Graders!

Calendar of Events for 2012-13

Save these dates! Programs to be announced!

Get on the mailing list for up to date program information today by contacting Dina and Phil

at dinahankin@aol.com.

2012No Event in November

December 9-Chanukah party

2013January 12-13-Shul In

February 10March 24-Chocolate Seder

April 21May 19

We look forward to another great year with TBA’s La’atid group!!

To RSVP or if you have questions, contact your trusty advisors,

Dina and Phil Hankin at dinahankin@aol.com.

Save The DaTeS!

SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

FOR HIGH SCHOOL JEWISH STUDENT-ATHLETES

The Northern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame is accepting nominations of outstanding Jewish student-athletes for a small college scholar-ship (approx. $1,500) to be awarded at a gala din-ner at the Four Seasons Hotel, San Francisco, on January 27, 2013. Any secondary school Jewish student (male or female, grade 12) in Northern California may be nominated. Criteria are: Born of a Jewish parent, or a convert to Judaism, or acknowledging a Jewish identity. Please send a 150-word application stating why this person is worthy of recognition. Please include:• A letter of application from the student-

athlete (150 words).

• A letter from a person who is familiar with the student-athlete (150 words).

• A list of athletic participation signed by a coach or counselor.

• A transcript of grades up to date of appli-cation (must include a verification stamp).

• A list of community service and extra- curricular activities.

• Additional letters of recommendation from coaches, administrators, teachers, clergy (no more than 3).

Date to submit application is November 16, 2012 (PLEASE NOTE THE EARLIER SUBMITTAL DATE THAN PREVIOUS YEARS). Send to Gary Wiener, JSHOFNC, 4200 Indigo Oak Court, San Jose, CA 95121. If you have questions, please call Barbara Oseroff, scholarship committee at (510) 653-5155.

18

life cyclesB’

nai M

itzv

ah

(continued on page 19)

lena Sloan Freid, november 10, 2012I am a 7th grader at Edna Brewer Middle School. Some of my favorite things to do are read, play piano (which I’ve been doing for 6 years), go jogging with my Dad, and play soccer. I love animals and I really want a dog.My Torah portion is Chayei Sarah, which is about Abraham and Sarah dying, and about finding a wife for Isaac. I find it interesting that the whole parshah is named after Sarah, but only the very beginning is about her. At my bat mitzvah (which is technically a b’nai mitzvah since I’m doing it with my brother Aaron), I will be talk-ing mainly about peace and how important it is. I want to thank my friends and family for coming to help me celebrate this special day. I would also like to thank Outi Gould and Rabbi Bloom for helping me prepare for my Bat Mitzvah, and Warren Gould for helping me write my drash. I want to give a huge thanks to my parents for their love and support, and for making this wonderful occasion happen. And finally, thanks to my b’nai mitzvah class for being the best class ever. I hope you will join us on November 10!

aaron Sloan Freid, november 10, 2012I’m in 8th grade at Edna Brewer Middle School. My sister and I live in Oakland, half the time with my Mom and the other half with my Dad. My favorite subject in school is English because I like writing and I like my teacher. I play baseball right now, but I’ve also played basketball, soccer, and flag football. I want to play football in high school at Oakland Tech.I feel very in touch with my Judaism. At home, I don’t keep kosher but we do light the candles on Friday night and keep Passover. Also, I fasted without eating or drinking anything this past Yom Kippur. It was my first time doing this. I attended Bet Sefer and Gan Avraham Preschool since I was 2 years old, creating memories and making friends the entire time.Another special Jewish place for me is Camp Newman. This summer will be my 7th at Newman and my 4th time going for a month. Over the years I have spent approximately 4 months at this magical camp where I’ve had unforgettable experiences and made lifelong friends. As it says on every Camp Newman shirt: “Camp is life, the rest is just details.”My life is both Jewish and secular at the same time. It is only partially assimilated. Come on November 10 to hear more about this in my drash about assimilation.

Charlie levine, november 17, 2012I have been a member of Temple Beth Abraham all of my life - from bris to bar mitz-vah. I went to Gan Avraham and to Bet Sefer and I am looking forward to being recog-nized as an adult in our community at my upcoming bar mitzvah.I am a 7th grader at Redwood Day School. I love all sports and am currently on the RDS flag football team. I also enjoy baseball and basketball. I have been playing drums for many years and enjoy all kinds of music and dance, especially hip hop.My tzedakah project is to support the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. I will be donating a portion of my gifts to this organization that does so much to help kids and families through sports and other activities.I hope you will join us on November 17 to celebrate my bar mitzvah.

zoe Sterling, november 24, 2012I’m in eighth grade at Montera Middle School. I love to play soccer; my position is left forward. I like art and especially like to draw. A hobby of mine is to draw people in cartoon form. I also

19

life cycles

Welcome New MembersCori Constantine & Tony Gottschalk. Their daughter Rylan GottschalkDaniel & Jessica KleinStacy Frauwirth. Her daughter Sydney PalmerJessica McMahanJohn Parker & Deborah Santucci

a nOTe TO neW MeMBerS: We would like to introduce you to the TBA community in an upcoming newsletter. Please send a short introduction of you and your family, with a digital photo, to omer@tbaoakland.org. Thanks!

love drama and Shakespeare. My favorite play is “Much Ado About Nothing.” I saw my first Shakespeare play when I was four. My grandparents have taken me several times to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, and I’ve seen productions locally as well. I live in Oakland with my parents, Jessica and Greg, and my younger sister, Emma.I came to TBA when I was in the fourth grade. I went to Gan Mah Tov pre-school at Temple Beth Jacob. When we joined TBA in 2008 I only knew Shira Sanghvi and Zach Hankin, but I’ve made some really good friends here over the past four years. In my Parasha, Vayetze (Genesis 31:17-32:3), Rachel, Leah, and their husband Jacob, flee Laban’s house. Rachel and Leah are leaving their father’s house to start their own lives. This is essentially what I am doing myself, making the transition from childhood to the greater responsibility of becoming a Bat Mitzvah. I’d like to thank Susan Simon, my tutor, for her patience, and Rabbi Bloom for his guidance throughout this process.

B’nai Mitzvah (continued from page 18)

Welcome Back! Introducing Ernestina Carrilo, Larry and Eliana Polon

Joining TBA is a homecoming for our family. As a young couple we became involved with TBA in the early 80s as we were trying to determine what our future together was to be. What ensued was many simchas we would celebrate there – Ernestina’s conversion, our wed-ding, the naming ceremony for our daughter, Eliana and her graduation from the Gan. We left TBA soon after Eliana started kindergarten at Tehiyah Day School to join Netivot Shalom, the congregation in our immediate neighborhood. We left but did not leave. The families we met during our TBA days have remained the gravity that ground our lives. It is they to whom we have always turned to for friendship, celebration and in times we have needed comfort.So here we are now, 20 years later, finally home again. During our time away Larry has continued to teach special education in the Fremont School District and Ernestina works in public health administration in San Francisco. Eliana completed her undergraduate studies at UC Santa Cruz, lives in her own apartment in Berkeley and teaches preschool at Beth El (she was hired into this position last year by her former Gan preschool teacher, Barbara Kanter).We are delighted to be back at TBA and have appreciated the warm welcome we have received from old friends and new. We look forward to becoming active participants of the congregation and contributing to its continued success.

20

life cycles

about Our Cover artist This MonthRuth Phillips Teitelbaum is the cover artist for this month’s Omer. She is passionate about art and Judaism and always enjoys the opportunity to combine the two. She created Omer cover art for two years, co-painted the large “Starry Night in Oakland” mural that hangs in the TBA chapel, has taught art to students at Bet Sefer, and has donated her work to the TBA schools auction.Ruth is a painter and graphic designer who creates paintings, murals, and theatre sets. Currently, she is working on a large wildlife mural in the Science Discovery Room at Oakland Hebrew Day School and will have a painting showing at the Juried Community Art Show at the Peninsula Jewish Community Center Foster City from October 12 - December

18. As well as being an artist, Ruth is an Art Educator who teaches stu-dents, kindergarten through adult, all kinds of artistic mediums, habits, and skills. Ruth grew up in Teaneck, NJ, got her BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design and her Teaching Baccalaureate at Eastern Michigan University. Ruth, her husband Ben, and children Louis (14), Walter (12), and Sara Aviva (6) joined Temple Beth Abraham five years ago when they moved to the area from Ann Arbor, Michigan. Louis had his bar mitzvah in June 2011 and Walter’s is coming up in April of 2013.

over them you’ll silently curse and call out “Nathaniel, I asked you to put your shoes in the bin, come down here right now!” However, let’s say you walk in the front door and move easily to the kitchen with no mishaps, will you stop and think, “Wow all my kids put their shoes away?” I’m guessing you’ll instead move on quickly to ask aloud who left their snack dishes out on the coffee table. (Or is that just me?) Even the optimists among us are more likely to fixate on what didn’t work out rather than what did. The problem with this is that, as Professor Martin Seligman (widely considered the founder of positive psychology) points out, we actually need a ratio of 5 times more positive than negative thoughts to reach our full happiness potential. How can you be more grateful? According to Seligman and scores of other researchers, gratitude practices or simply a daily accounting of “What Went Well” (see practice below) can shift both our perspective, and what we are trained to notice in our own lives. In fact simple rituals, such as this exercise, have been used in some cases to treat depression as effectively as anti-depressants. Okay, we’re all busy and split between the many roles, including but not limited to parent, spouse, child, friend and community member. So in honor of the Omer Gratitude issue, I thought I would provide a couple of wild-ly easy practices that I’ve used with great success personally in my coaching work so that you too can reap the psycho-logical benefits of gratitude.

One practice my family has adopted is stopping, after the lighting of Shabbat candles, and going around the table so that each person can talk about what they are grateful for about the past week. Parents - not only is it heartwarming to hear what you kids appreciate and remember about their week, but it’s also one of my major sources of information about what my kids actually did – especially as my oldest inches towards the teen years.The second practice designed by Seligman is the “What Went Well” or “Three Blessings Exercise”. What Went Well (adapted from Seligman) Find a notebook or open a computer file where you can keep writing everyday so there is a visual record of your efforts. Record three things EACH DAY that went well (what) and why they went well (why). This exercise should take 5 min-utes or less and going with your first response is just right. (ex: What? I had a great conversation in the car with my kids. Why? Their carpool was cancelled so I drove them to soccer. Or Ex: What? The weather was amazing today. Why? G-d made it that way.)The key to either of the above exercises, or any gratitude practice you undertake, is to keep it simple enough to con-tinue doing. The cool part about the Seligman exercise is that research showed that even people who only practiced it for two weeks still reaped measureable happiness gains six month later. So try it out, commit to it for a few weeks, and see if you too can benefit from this happiness booster.You can read more of Jo Ilfeld’s happiness boosting advice by signing up at www.SuccessReboot.com.

Five Minutes of Happiness, continued from page 9

21

life cycles

Is your birthday information wrong or missing from this list? Please contact the TBA office to make corrections.

1Sally Ann Berk

William Joseph KunisGary Rosenblum

2Jordan Alva

3Marci Gottlieb

4Noah Goldstein

5Angela Engel

6Benjamin Teitelbaum

7Jason Swartz

8Matthew GildeaRuby Rosenberg

Karen SchoonmakerMichael Sosebee

9Charles Bernstein

Robin DiscoBen GoldstoneLeonard Katz

Eden Jasmina MaidenbergStephanie Roach

Shira SanghviMatthew Smith

10Lucia Acevedo-Schiesel

Daniel NathanEthan Silberzweig

Risa Stiegler

11Anna ApplebaumRaphael BreinesHannah Hodess

12Jason Klein

George Zimmer

14Hannah Friedman

Talia PaulsonPenny Righthand

Sophia SparksZachary Sparks

15Joanne BesslerJueli Garfinkle

16Talia Jaffe

Zoe Sterling

17Rafael Brinner

Milah GammonJeremy Goldman

Molly HershScout KauffmanDavid Marinoff

18Russell GoldJessica Klein

19Casey Baum

Harriett FeltmanPeter GertlerEliza Hersh

Marc HorodasDebra Perrin Coltoff

Jeremy Simon

20Lori Morris

Casey Shea Dinkin

21Jonah Rosenberg

Pavel Slavin

22Cole BloomfieldJoel GarfinkleJustin Graham

David Joseph-GoteinerAmy Kittiver-KaySandy MargolinEugene Myers

Joshua Wittenberg

23Ezra KotovskyTalia Kotovsky

Laura Wildmann

24Scott Gerber

Eli PosamentierAron Rosenberg

Marshall WildmannJacob Zimmerman

25Danna Gillette-Pascal

Natalya Zatkin

26Abraham Barnes

Zoe Graham

27Laura Grossmann

Nathan LevineSteven Pascal

28Etta Heber

29Leyla Brinner-Sulema

Paul SilbersteinAnnie J. Schwartz Strom

Laura Tucker

November Birthdays

22

life cycles

CHeSHVan 16-17November 1-2Morris LasarMary Louise TeneryEmma ShafferBlanche Sosebee

CHeSHVan 18-24November 3-9H. Rowland CarterLeah Albert HalemSidney RosenthalKarl KrausAnnette SellesGeorge WassermanMartha SchwartzmanSarah MorofskyHilda KesslerAnna RamekMorris Goldman

CHeSHVan 25-KISleV 2November 10-16Geraldine TurchenHezghia SaidanMervin Gochman

Morris WeissArthur MyersRosa QuittmanPenina TurnerSamuel AshSarah EpsteinIrene Elizabeth FlickMarvin GoldbergBernard KasdanHelmut SteinIrving GoldmanFreda RubensteinAugusta Saretsky

WeinbergerRuth Bresow YoungAnne Bosniak GoldbergKurt KruchinskiBen MaccabeeHelen Moskowitz

KISleV 3-9November 17-23Esther DeKovenCharlene EberhartIrvin Weller

Henry BrottMary FeltmanRebecca KernsJoseph OkhBen ShaneDavid BenistyPaul HertzArthur KellmanLeo and Esther RamekAbraham ShafferGussie GoldsteinIsaac MarcusHilda RalHerman RothJeanette JegerSterna KasdanEve Rothman

KISleV 10-16November 24-30Jacob KarwatEdward BercovichHerbert GoodmanLeon KraftEsther Naggar

Aaron GissenAlice MendelJoseph ScheinStella BrottAnn PitkinLaura RosenthalErwin WallenEric ZielenzigerRita HeegerNancy KonigsbergWayne StanfieldBryna GalantJehudah GalantRuth GalantShoshana GalantRichard M. GoldstoneMary HaleMax KaufmanMervin TesslerNina BalintEdith BudmanRichard Goldstone

May God comfort you among all the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem

November Yahrzeits

John Odenheimer, Father of Dick (Mary) OdenheimerHans-Georg Venus, Step-Father of Ulli Rotzscher

Mary Gildea, Mother of Dennis (Susan) GildeareCenT DeaTHS In OUr COMMUnITY

MeMOrIal PlaQUe Anyone wishing to purchase a memorial plaque, please contact Pinky at the synagogue office at extension 229.

your first person stories laced with insights, humor, and practical, professional or business expertise.Our high quality and usually mistake-free Omer would not come to fruition without the production crew. Special thanks go to our copyediting team including Debbie Spangler, Jan Silverman, Lisa Fernandez, and in the very recent past Jessica Dell’Era, Nadine Joseph and Richard Kauffman. And to our proofreading team including: Jeanne Korn, Charles Feltman, and many of the TBA staff members. Your work improves the quality of the Omer immensely!

Lastly, thanks to our distribution team including Virginia Tiger who prints the newsletters, Liz Wilmer who loads the Omer onto our website each month, and Fifi Goodfellow, Agnes and Pinky Pencovic, Hennie Hecht, Gertrude Veiss, who label and batch the completed copies so the Post Office will accept them. My gratitude goes to each and every one of you as well as anyone else that I have forgotten. Your work is appreciated and you help make the Omer a joy to read! To anyone who wants to join the team, just let me know. Send an email to me at omer@tbaoakland.org.

Editor’s Message, continued from page 4

23

Centennial Project FundMarshall & lynn langfeld, In honor of Alicia and Bryan Schwartz’s birthdays

Stephen & Susan ShubMichael & Deborah Sosebee, In memory of Mary Gildea

Madeline Weinstein, In memory of Emma Rothenberg

David & Treya Weintraub, In memory of Michael George Melvin

Centennial Match FundMark Fickes & William Gentry Philip & Dina HankinBetty ann Polse

Piser/Davis Challenge FundStuart & abby zangwill

Jeanette Jeger Kitchen Fundnorman & Jo Budman, In memory of Rabbi Morris and Mary Schussheim

Steven Glaser & Deena aerensonSari Grossman, In memory of Ben LoedJoel Piser & Jing Weng Hsieh, In memory of Frances Mae Piser

Courtyard Project FundDaniel & anne Bookinlouis & lisa Goodman

General Fundarmand & Carol attiaCharles Bernstein & Joanne Goldstein, Happy 40th birthdays to Bryan and Alicia Schwartz

Charles Bernstein & Joanne Goldstein, In honor of Aaron and Eva Paul’s newest grandchild, Louisa

Charles Bernstein & Joanne Goldstein, In memory of John Odenheimer

Marvin Cohen & Suzy locke, WTBAJoseph & Judith epstein, In memory of Jack Tessler

alan Gellman & arlene zuckerbergPhillip & Karen Glick, Gabriel Hughes Brit Milah

Seth & Donna Golublibby Hertz, In memory of Sidney Hertzarthur Kao & rachel Sussman, Samual Kao-Sussman brit milah

Marshall & lynn langfeld, In memory of John Odenheimer

Mark liss & Bonnie Burt, In honor of Susan Simon

Svetlana & Mikhail Partsuf, In memory of Tsilya Kobuzyatskaya

anthony & alexandrina PrettoMark & rita roytfeld, In memory of our parents and relatives

Yaron Singer, Ilai Singer Brit Milahlisa Sterling, Noah’s Brit MilahJesse & rachel Teichman, In honor of Alicia and Bryan Schwartz’s 40th birthdays

Jerome & Beverly Turchin, In memory of Frances Turchin

Kiddush FundHoward Davis Charles & Harriett Feltman, Celebrating Charles’ 70th birthday

leonard & Helen Fixler, In memory of Harold Nudler, In memory of Odenheimer’s father

Sheldon Kottle, In memory of Fannye Rebecca Kottle

Klaus Ullrich rotzscher

Minyan FundDennis & Susan Gildea, In memory of Bess & Joe Dienstag

Milton & Margaret Greenstein, In memory of Bertha Rosenstein

Misia nudler, In memory of Harold NudlerSheldon & Barbara rothblattDavid Weiner & ellen Kaufman, In memory of Pearl Weiner

Camper/scholarship Fundelinor DeKoven, Happy 90th Birthday to Leonard Fixler and Get Well Shirley Silver

Rabbi Discretionary Fundreuven Glick & Marci GottliebFifi Goodfellow, In memory of Ulli Rotzscher’s step-father.

Philip & Dina Hankin, Thank you for Zevan’s Bar Mitzvah

Jonathan & Joy Jacobs, In honor of our 25th anniversary

Sheldon Kottle, In memory of Phillip Kottle David lenik, In memory of Mildred Lenikeugene & Marjorie Myers, In memory of Reba Schechtman

Thomas & linda nelsonMatthew & Sarah Weisman, In honor of our children and grandchildren: Deborah, Larry, Hannah and David Reback

Stuart & abby zangwill, In honor of Jesse Beallo’s brit milah

Stuart & abby zangwill, In honor of Nico Rose’s brit milah

Endowment FundKirk & Dvora Mcleanlarry Miller & Mary Kelly, In memory of Anne Miller

Ilya & regina Okh, In memory of Mundele Okh and Nuta Okh

Charity is equal in importance to all the other commandments combined.

donations

A Legacy Gift Lasts ForeverInclude TBA in your Estate Planning so that your message

to your family is loud and clear:The existence of Temple Beth Abraham is important to me

and for the future of Jews in Oakland.Contact TBA’s Executive Director Rayna Arnold for further details

(510) 832-0936 or Rayna@tbaoakland.org.You are never too young to plan for the future!Thank You to our Legacy Donor, Steve Glaser.

24

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PERIODICALS POSTAGE

P A I DOakland, CA

Permit No. 020299

Temple Beth Abraham327 MacArthur BoulevardOakland, CA 94610

TBA Directory ......................... i

What’s Happening ..................1

From the Rabbi .......................2

President’s Message ................3

Editor’s Message .....................4

Women of TBA .......................5

Men’s Club .............................7

Gratitude ................................8

Jewish Knowledge ................10

Cooking Corner ....................11

Gan Avraham News..............12

Volunteer Board ...................12

Bet Sefer News .....................13

Midrasha ..............................14

Youth Events .........................15

La’atid ..................................16

Athlete Scholarship ...............17

Life Cycles ............................18

Donations .............................23

Calendar ......................... ......24

what’s inside

Want to sponsor a Kiddush?

Share your simcha with the congregation by sponsoring a Shabbat Kiddush.

Contact Executive Director: Rayna Arnold for available dates.

Rayna@tbaoakland.org or call (510) 832-0936.